Deo volente

“Deo volente” - it’s Latin for “God willing”. It’s a beautiful and simple phrase that reminds us of what really is in our control: very little.

I like this image of Michael Jordan above because it highlights what is in his control in that exact moment. Everything in black and white is everything outside of his control. All he is responsible for is himself and the shot he just threw. Jordan made this particular shot, but he also missed over 9000 other shots in his career. Despite being the greatest, some shots just don’t land.

To me the phrase Deo volente translates to “do your best, release the rest.”

Because sometimes, we can do absolutely everything right. We can work late nights, we can obsess over customer research, we can test the product over and over and get a great result. And then it can be a complete flop.

This has happened to many companies and people over the years. It happens to me regularly with social posts or emails just like this one. I spend hours researching, writing and then re-writing…and sometimes it simply doesn’t land.

It can really suck because it hurts when doing our best simply isn’t enough. This often delivers a familiar surge of frustration and self-doubt.

Did I mess this up? What could I have done differently? Why isn’t it working?

The point is, Deo volente is a mindset of resilient surrender. We act with intention, but we don’t grip the outcome with white knuckles.

Not having control isn’t a failure - it’s simply part of being human.

And just to clarify - this concept doesn’t mean giving up, nor is it helplessness. Instead, it’s really about wise acceptance that allows us to keep moving forward.

Tools to remember Deo volente

If we want to live more peacefully in the space between action and outcome, here are a few tools that I’ve found helpful.

1. Have I done what I can? It’s a simple question, but an important one. We need to be kind to ourself too. There will always be something else we could have done, so it’s a razor’s edge to walk the line between fixation and acceptance. I often think about that scene at the end of Schindler’s List for this one - the one where he looks at his belongings and thinks he could have done more. We might think the same. But we’re not always in a life-or-death moment like that. Often, we’re just trying to do meaningful work without losing ourselves. With a moment of real pause, we’ll be able to know if we did enough. When the answer is “yes” then we can move forward with less burden.

2. Plan with purpose, not attachment. Set goals, set plans and then take action, but hold it all lightly. The purpose of planning is to move with intention and have something to aim for. But we also need to be fluid. Take a professional athlete as an example - he practices hitting the target 10,000 times but, as soon as the arrow flies, the rest is outside of his control.

   The critical piece here is that if (or likely when) things shift, our worth hasn’t shifted with them. We’re still grounded. We know who we are. Conversely, when we grip too tightly to how things must go, we become brittle and break (just ask Blockbuster). Resilience is flexible.

3. Pause when things fall apart. When life doesn’t go according to plan, our first reaction is often panic, self-blame, or frenzy. Instead, a pause helps us find some space. It’s a moment of calm for us to see things from a new angle and perhaps remember what we already have. And each pause can create a small but powerful shift from resistance to responsiveness. That’s where we move from suffering to resilience.

4. The outcome is never the whole story. So many times, the thing we thought was a failure was actually a redirection. Maybe we didn’t get that job, but six months later we’re in a role that fits better. We missed one door and found another that was quietly waiting for us. Resilient people aren’t immune to disappointment. We just don’t let disappointment define the whole narrative.

Deo volente is NOT a get out of jail free card. It’s certainly not a reason to give up. Instead, it’s a way of moving forward with grace.

It reminds us that effort and control are not the same thing. That we can care deeply, work diligently, and still release the outcome with peace.

I’m still learning this every day and it’s always a good reminder to move forward with courage, and just enough surrender to stay human.

Until next time friends, stay resilient.

Carre @ Resilient Minds

PS - do you know someone who might need to hear this one this week? Please send it along to a friend or colleague who needs a positive reminder to finish the week strong.